Filling machine provided with flushing device

Abstract

A filling machine for producing containers containing liquid food product includes a series of rollers for forming a web-shaped packaging material into a tubular packaging material, a filling tube for introducing a liquid food product into the tubular packaging material while the tubular packaging material is being conveyed downwardly, a heat sealing bar providing with a heating mechanism and engageable with a cutting bar to produce a seal area forming a transverse seal across the tubular packaging material below a level of the liquid food product, and a cutter provided on the cutting bar to cut the tubular packaging material in the seal zone to form a preformed container containing the liquid food product. At least one nozzle is positioned to direct a sterilizing flushing liquid towards the outside surface of the tubular packaging material and/or the cutter. The flushing liquid advantageously cleans and sterilizes the outer surface of the tubular packaging material, and is able to flow downwardly to wash and sterilize the sealing bar and the cutter. Also, the flushing liquid can cool the packaging material after the formation of the transverse seal and so the plastic or resin material of the packaging material is relatively rapidly hardened. It is thus less likely that the plastic or resin material will be stained or soiled. As a result, the appearance of the packaging material is improved.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A filling machine for producing containers containing liquid food product comprising: 
       a series of rollers for forming a web-shaped packaging material into a tubular packaging material, the tubular packaging material having an outside surface;  
       a filling tube for introducing a liquid food product into the tubular packaging material while the tubular packaging material is being conveyed downwardly, the tubular packaging material having an outside surface;  
       at least one forming flap engageable with the packaging material to transform and form the packaging material into a desired configuration;  
       a heat sealing bar providing with a heating mechanism and engageable with a cutting bar to produce a seal area forming a transverse seal across the tubular packaging material below a level of the liquid food product;  
       a cutter provided on the cutting bar to cut the tubular packaging material in the seal zone to form a preformed container containing the liquid food product; and  
       at least one nozzle positioned above said at least one forming flap for directing a sterilizing flushing liquid to at least a portion of the outside surface of the tubular packaging material located above the transverse seal.  
     
     
       2. The filling machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one nozzle is positioned upstream of the heat sealing bar and cutting bar with respect to the downward direction of movement of the tubular packaging material. 
     
     
       3. The filling machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said flushing liquid is ozonized water. 
     
     
       4. The filling machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one nozzle includes a plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
       5. The filling machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flushing liquid is at a temperature of 2° C.-20° C. 
     
     
       6. The filling machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flushing liquid is at a temperature of 5° C.-15° C. 
     
     
       7. A filling machine for producing containers containing liquid food product comprising: 
       filling means for filling a liquid food product into a tubular packaging material conveyed downwardly from above, the packaging material having an outside surface;  
       at least one forming flap engageable with the packaging material to transform and form the packaging material into a desired configuration;  
       sealing means for sealing the tubular packaging material transversely under a liquid level of the liquid food product in the tubular packaging material to form a transverse seal zone;  
       cutting means for cutting the seal zone to form a preformed container containing liquid food product; and  
       flushing liquid supplying means for supplying a flushing liquid containing a disinfectant towards at least a portion of the outside surface of the packaging material located above the transverse seal zone, said flushing liquid supplying means being positioned above said at least one forming flap.  
     
     
       8. The filling machine as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said flushing liquid supplying means includes at least one nozzle. 
     
     
       9. The filling machine as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said flushing liquid supplying means is positioned upstream of the sealing means and cutting means with respect to the downward direction of movement of the tubular packaging material. 
     
     
       10. The filling machine as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said flushing liquid is ozonized water. 
     
     
       11. The filling machine as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said flushing liquid supplying means includes a plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
       12. The filling machine as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the flushing liquid has a temperature of 2° C.-20° C. 
     
     
       13. A method of producing containers containing liquid food product comprising: 
       forming a web-shaped packaging material into a tubular packaging material having an outside surface;  
       introducing a liquid food product into the tubular packaging material while the tubular packaging material is being conveyed downwardly;  
       pressing at least one forming flap against the tubular packaging material to transform and form the packaging material into a desired configuration;  
       forming a transverse seal across the tubular packaging material containing the liquid food product;  
       cutting the tubular packaging material in the transverse seal of the packaging material to form a filled preformed container; and  
       directing a sterilizing flushing liquid towards at least a portion of the outside surface of the tubular packaging material located above the transverse seal and above the at least one forming flap while the tubular packaging material is being cut in the transverse seal of the packaging material.  
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the flushing liquid is directed towards the tubular packaging material by at least one nozzle. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the flushing liquid is directed towards the tubular packaging material at a position upstream of where the transverse seal is cut. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the flushing liquid is ozonized water. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the flushing liquid has a temperature of 2° C.-20° C.